Fact Sheet – Thailand Official Name Kingdom of Thailand Capital Bangkok
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Fact Sheet – Thailand Official Name Kingdom of Thailand Capital Bangkok (population 10 million) Area 513,115 sq km (about 1/6th of area of India) Provinces 77 provinces including one Specially Governed District (Bangkok) Major cities Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Nakorn Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathanee, Hat Yai and Udon Thani Population 67.09 million (July 2012) population growth rate – 0.7% per annum Religion Buddhist 95%, Muslims 3.8%, Christians 0.5%, others 1.7%. Ethnic Groups Thais, Chinese, Malays, the Burmese, Lao, Khmers Currency Baht (1 US$ - 29.45 Baht - May 2013) National Day 5 December (Birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej) Languages Thai, Chinese, English Climate Tropical: temperatures vary between 19 C to 38 C Government Constitutional Monarchy with Parliamentary Democracy Head of State HM Bhumibol Adulyadej, the 9thking (Rama IX) of the House of Chakri, is the world's longest-serving ruler (since 1946). The king is titled as the upholder of the Buddhist religion & the defender of all faiths. Crown Prince is HRH Mahavajiralongkorn. Head of PM Yingluck Shinawatra (since August 2011), Thailand’s first female Government PM and the 28th PM of Thailand, member of the Pheu Thai Party Parliament The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body. The Senate (National (Upper House) is a non-partisan legislative chamber, composed of 150 Assembly) members (76 Senators are directly elected from the Provinces, while 74 are appointed from various sectors by the Senate Selection Committee). The Senate operates under fixed terms of 6 years. The House of Representatives (Lower House) with a 4 years term has a total 500 Members (375 Members are elected through single constituency elections, while the other 125 are appointed on the basis of percentage of votes obtained by each party. Ministry of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister - Dr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul Foreign Affairs Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs- Mr. Jullapong Nonsrichai Economy Thailand is an emerging economy which is heavily export-dependent, with exports accounting for more than two thirds of GDP. The industrial (39%) and the service sectors serve as the two main sectors in the Thai GDP. Agricultural sector shares only 8.6 % of the GDP – lower than trading sector (13.5%) and the logistics & communication sector (9.6%). The construction & mining sector 4.3% to the country’s GDP. Other service sectors - which include the financial, the educational, the hotel sectors etc. - account for 25 % GDP. Major Exports automobile parts and accessories, precious stones and jewellery, Rice, rubber, electronic ICs; refined fuels, iron and steel products, chemical products, polymers of ethylene, propylene, machinery etc. Major Imports crude oil, machinery & parts, chemicals, electrical machinery, iron and steel products, jewellery including silver bars & gold, computers and parts, other metal ores, natural gas, fertilizer & pesticides etc. Major crops Rice, Rubber, Sugarcane, Cassava, Pineapple, Maize Major Trading Japan, China, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Partners Indonesia, , S. Korea, UAE GDP Nominal US$ 377.16 billion (estimate-2012) GDP per capita US$ 5,850 (estimate-2012) Total Thai Exports US$ 229.52 billion (2012) Total Thai Imports US$ 247.59 billion (2012) Indian Exports US$ 3.20 billion (2012) Indian Imports US$ 5.48 billion (2012) Time Zone GMT + 7 hours (IST + 1hr 30 Minutes) Calling code +66 Indian There are an estimated 150,000-200,000 people of Indian origin in community and Thailand, many of them having lived in the country for several organizations generations. The community comprises of Punjabis, Namdhari and other Sikh sects, Gorakhpuris, Tamils and Sindhis. India-Thai Chamber of Commerce; India-Thai Business Association; IIT Alumni Association; Indian Women’s Club; Guru Singh Sabha; Thai-Bharat Cultural Lodge; Sindhi Association; Tamil Muslim Association; South Indian Association, etc. Air-links Air connectivity is growing with over 150 flights per week by Air India, Jet Air, Indigo, Thai, Cathay Pacific, Air Asia, Druk Air etc reflecting rapidly growing passenger traffic between the two countries. Bangkok is connected by air to 9 Indian destinations. *** .